The CPCA has received the following letter from Dr Martin Heath. Sir, Come on out you cowards and fight! That’s my message to the moneymen lurking in the shadows behind the so-called ‘Rebuild Crystal Palace‘ project, which is being fronted publicly by certain traders on the Triangle, and architect Ray Hall. The Crystal Palace Dialogue saw representatives of the local community throw out the Rebuild scheme and overwhelmingly back a managed nature garden option for the overgrown section of the Crystal Palace hilltop next to the TV mast, where the caravan park was originally located. This concept was incorporated into the London Development Agency Masterplan: “At the northern end of the Terrace,…

The CPCA has been granted ‘Rule 6’ status by the Planning Inspectorate at the forthcoming local Public Inquiry into the LDA Crystal Palace Park Masterplan applications. Rule 6 gives the CPCA similar status as Bromley and the LDA (the developer) at the Inquiry and the opportunity to question witnesses and others, and test evidence. The CPCA has prepared a ‘statement of case’ and written ‘proofs of evidence’ and awaits confirmation of the date and venue of the Inquiry. A public inquiry is an adversarial forum similar to a court of law. The public can attend as observers, although this will not affect the inquiry’s outcome as the Inspector can only…

Following European Court ruling that Bromley had failed to instruct Environmental Impact Assessment prior to the proposed development of a 20-screen cinema multiplex in Crystal Palace Park, the CPCA wrote on numerous occasions to Doug Patterson, Bromley Chief Executive, requesting confirmation of the costs awarded against them. His refusal to answer CPCA letters throughout 2008 resulted in a letter advising him of our intention to resort to the Freedom of Information Act. The CPCA has now received confirmation that costs have been quantified at £275,000, which will be met by Bromley’s suffering council taxpayers. Costs awarded against the UK Government are still unknown.

In Autumn 2006 the CPCA highlighted the massive UNLAWFUL internally illuminated advertising sign, erected by Outdoor Plus Ltd, in the Triangle Conservation Area, on the frontage of Jack Beard’s pub at the top of Anerley Hill – a sign used twice by Mayor Livingstone. Two years later, Bromley served an enforcement notice, following refusal of planning permission, for the removal of the sign, as covered in our Spring 2008 newsletter. Bromley inform us that Outdoor Plus Ltd has appealed the planning decision, and an informal hearing originally scheduled for 9 December 2008 with Inspector Bowden, in Bromley Civic Centre Committee Rooms, was deferred to January 2009 and again to 5…